The Story of the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon begins with a prophet named Lehi, who lived with his family in Jerusalem. Lehi warned the wicked people in Jerusalem that they would be destroyed if they did not repent, but the people didn’t listen. The Lord told Lehi to take his wife, Sariah, and their sons—Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi—into the wilderness. (See 1 Nephi 1–2.)

After they left their home, Lehi sent his sons back to get the brass plates. People had written on them the history of their ancestors and other things the Lord had told them to write. Lehi and Nephi took good care of these plates. They also wrote on metal plates what happened to their family. (See 1 Nephi 3–5.)

“I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.”

The Lord gave Lehi a compass called the Liahona to guide his family through the wilderness to the promised land. (See 1 Nephi 16.)

The Lord told Nephi to build a boat to take his father’s family to the promised land. Nephi obeyed his father and the Lord, but Laman and Lemuel did not. (See 1 Nephi 17.)

Laman and Lemuel continued to be disobedient. Their descendants are known as the Lamanites. Nephi continued to be obedient. His descendants are called Nephites. (See 2 Nephi 4–5.)

After Lehi and Nephi died, other people—such as Nephi’s brother Jacob—were in charge of writing important teachings and events on the plates. (See Jacob 1.)

Enos prayed to be forgiven of his sins, and he was forgiven. (See Enos 1.)

“All the day long did I cry unto him.”

King Benjamin built a tower to teach his people the gospel. (See Mosiah 2–6.)

A wicked king named Noah had the prophet Abinadi put to death. But Abinadi’s teachings converted one of Noah’s priests, named Alma. (See Mosiah 11–17.)

Alma escaped from King Noah’s court, taught other people about the gospel, and baptized them. (See Mosiah 18.)

Alma’s son Alma the Younger was not obedient. He and his friends, the sons of Mosiah, were wicked. Then an angel told them to repent. Alma and the sons of Mosiah repented and spent the rest of their lives preaching the gospel. (See Mosiah 27–28.)

“I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.”

Mosiah’s son Ammon defended King Lamoni’s flocks and won his trust. Then he converted many Lamanites. (See Alma 17–19.)

Captain Moroni wrote the title of liberty and fought to defend the liberty of his people. (See Alma 46, 48.)

“Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord.”

Helaman led an army of 2,000 righteous Lamanite young men. (See Alma 53, 56–58.)

Far away in Bethlehem, Jesus Christ was born. He taught His gospel, healed and blessed people, and set up His Church. Then He was crucified and resurrected. (See 3 Nephi 1, 8–10.)

After His Resurrection, Christ visited the righteous Nephites and Lamanites. He taught them His gospel, healed them, and blessed them, just as He had in the land around Jerusalem. (See 3 Nephi 11–28.)

A 10-year-old boy named Mormon was chosen to write on the plates when he grew older. At age 24 he began combining the most important stories from all the records onto a set of metal plates. Before he died, he gave these plates to his son Moroni. (See Mormon 1.)

Moroni was a great general. He was the last Nephite to survive a battle between the Lamanites and the Nephites. Before he died, he buried the plates in a place called Cumorah. (See Mormon 6, 8.)

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ visited Joseph Smith and told him that none of the churches were true and complete. Joseph would help restore the true Church of Jesus Christ. (See Joseph Smith—History 1:16–20.)

“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.”